OET interlinear COL 2:18

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

μηδεὶς & ἑόρακεν & αὐτοῦ

no_one & ˱he˲_/has/_seen & ˱of˲_him

The words no one, he, and his do not refer to one male person. Instead, they refer in a generic way to anyone who acts in these ways. If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate these words with a comparable generic phrase in your language or make them plural. Alternate translation: [no one … they have seen … their]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / imperative3p

μηδεὶς ὑμᾶς καταβραβευέτω

no_one you_all /let_be/_disqualifying

This phrase translates a third-person imperative. If your language has third-person imperatives, you could use one here. If your language does not, you could use a comparable phrase or express the idea with a second-person imperative. Alternate translation: [Do not allow anyone … deprive you of your prize] or [Be on your guard against anyone … so that he does not deprive you of your prize]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

μηδεὶς ὑμᾶς καταβραβευέτω

no_one you_all /let_be/_disqualifying

Here Paul refers to the false teachers as if they were judges or umpires at a contest who could decide against the Colossians, thus keeping them from receiving the prize for winning the contest. This metaphor fits with the “judging” language in 2:16. These two verses together suggest that the Colossians are tempted to choose the false teachers as their judges instead of Christ. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable metaphor or express the idea plainly. Alternate translation: [Let no one … act instead of Christ as your judge]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ταπεινοφροσύνῃ

humility

If your language does not use an abstract noun to express the idea behind humility, you could express the idea in another way, such as with a verb. Alternate translation: [humbling themselves falsely]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

θρησκείᾳ τῶν ἀγγέλων

/the/_worship ˱of˲_the angels

Paul uses the possessive form to describe the act of worshiping angels, not the worship that angels present to God. If it would be helpful in your language, you could clarify with a phrase such as “presented to.” Alternate translation: [worship presented to the angels]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἐμβατεύων

detailing

Here Paul speaks as if the false teachers were standing on things they have seen. This metaphor means that they talk about what they have seen and base teachings on it. If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate standing with a verb that expresses this idea plainly. Alternate translation: [constantly talking about] or [basing his teaching on]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἃ ἑόρακεν

which ˱he˲_/has/_seen

In the context of angel worship, things he has seen refers to visions and dreams that reveal powerful beings, heaven, the future, or other secrets. If these implications would not be understood in your language, you could use a word or phrase that refers to these kinds of visions or dreams or use a phrase to express the idea. Alternate translation: [things he has seen in visions] or [secrets revealed to him in visions]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

εἰκῇ φυσιούμενος ὑπὸ τοῦ νοὸς τῆς σαρκὸς αὐτοῦ

vainly /being/_arrogant by the mind ˱of˲_the flesh ˱of˲_him

If your language does not use this passive form, you could translate the phrase in its active form. Alternate translation: [the mind of his flesh puffing him up without cause]

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

φυσιούμενος

/being/_arrogant

Here Paul describes people who boast as if they had made themselves larger by filling themselves with air. He means that they think of themselves as more important than they really are. If becoming puffed up would not mean “becoming prideful” in your language, you could use a comparable metaphor or express the idea plainly. Alternate translation: [becoming self-important]

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ὑπὸ τοῦ νοὸς τῆς σαρκὸς αὐτοῦ

by the mind ˱of˲_the flesh ˱of˲_him

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind mind, you could express this idea by using a verb such as “think.” Alternate translation: [by how he thinks in fleshly ways]

Note 11 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

τοῦ νοὸς τῆς σαρκὸς αὐτοῦ

the mind ˱of˲_the flesh ˱of˲_him

Here Paul uses the possessive form to speak of a mind that belongs to the flesh. This phrase refers to thinking that is characterized by the flesh in its weakness and sinfulness. If your language does not use the possessive form to express that idea, you could express the idea by translating flesh as an adjective. Alternate translation: [his fleshly mind] or [his unspiritual mind]